Recent Translations of the English
Bible

Autographs
Western
Latin – 150 AD
West Med
Caesarean
Syriac – c. 150 AD
Syria
Alexandrian
Coptic – 200 AD
Egypt
Byzantine
Douai (1610) KJV (1611)
NKJV (1982)
ERV (1885)
ASV (1901)
RSV (1952)
NASB (1971)
ESV (2001)
NIV (1978)
NET (2005)

• We looked in an earlier lesson at successors of the KJV:
– ERV (1885)
– ASV (1901)
– RSV (1952)
– NASB (1971)
– NKJV (1982)
• In this lesson we want to look at other
English translations since 1950. (See
Wegner for a more complete listing).

• History
– Kenneth Taylor first realized the need for a new translation as a speaker for InterVarsity in America and Canada.
– He later had 10 children of his own and saw firsthand their difficulty in understanding the KJV.
– The translation was so well received that he started Tyndale House to promote and publish his work.
• Policies of the Translator
– Taylor’s goal was to paraphrase, in his own words, the ASV of
1901. He did not work from the original languages.
– A revision was done in 1996 (New Living Translation) which was based directly on the original languages, and employed dynamic equivalence translation rather than paraphrase.
• Translation
– Its strength is clear and easy to understand language. Yet it often goes way beyond the actual text with explanatory comment.
• Evaluation
– While this paraphrase has aroused broad interest in reading the
Bible, it frequently sacrifices accuracy in the process of making the
Bible understandable.

• History
– By 1976 the NT edition of this translation had already sold fifty-two million copies.
• Policies of the Translator
– The goal was to achieve an accurate, understandable translation of the original texts.
– Not a paraphrase, but uses dynamic equivalence rather than a more literal method of translation.
– Generally an elementary-school reading level.
• Translation
– Goal: “to give today’s readers maximum understanding from the content of the original texts.”
– Produced with great care and with fewer mistakes than TLB.
• Evaluation
– Attempts to simplify translation from the original texts without adding additional words like TLB.

• History
– Arose from dissatisfaction among evangelicals with existing translations.
– Backed by the Christian Reformed Church and the National
Association of Evangelicals.
– Produced by more than 110 evangelical translators from many
English-speaking countries and about thirty-four denominations; used English that is internationally recognized.
• Policies of the Translator
– Attempted to bridge the gap between word-for-word and dynamicequivalence translations.
– Sought accuracy and clarity as well as a degree of formality.
• Translation
– Removes many Hebrew idioms such as “and it came to pass.”
– Does not use archaic forms of second person pronouns because they are no longer contemporary English.
– Contains more than 3350 footnotes with textual variations, other translations, cross-references, and explanatory notes.
• Evaluation
– It has been well received and acclaimed as the top-selling Bible version in 1999. One of the most popular versions today.

• History
– Attempts for the 1990s what the Living Bible did for the
1970s; it is a fresh rendering from the original languages.
– While serving as a pastor for 29 years in Maryland, Peterson began translating the Scripture into the idiom of today’s generation.
• Policies of the Translator
– A paraphrase translation whose aim is “to convert the tone, the rhythm, the events, the ideas, into the way we actually think and speak.”
• Translation
– The argument is made that just as the NT was written in the common, informal Greek of the day, so should an English translation be.
• Evaluation
– Though it was ranked sixth among best-selling Bible versions of 1999, this version should not be depended upon for serious Bible study.

• History
– A revision of the 1971 edition of the Revised Standard
Version. About 6-7% of the text was changed from the RSV.
– Underwent a minor revision in 2007, which the publisher chose not to identify as a revision.
• Policies of the Translator
– Based on the original languages and the latest editions of
BHS (OT) and UBS and Nestle/Aland (NT).
• Translation
– Employs formal equivalence (more literal) rather than dynamic equivalence, though there are exceptions in some passages.
• Evaluation
– A good, mostly literal translation, and preferred by many as more literary and readable in style.

• History
– A completely new translation, not an update of an earlier translation.
– Produced by twenty biblical scholars working from the original languages.
• Policies of the Translator
– “commissioned to create a faithful Bible translation that could be placed on the Internet, downloaded for free, and used around the world for ministry.”
– Since it is not limited by a print edition, it includes an immense number of study notes...16,025 in the NT alone.
• Translation
– The text is dynamically equivalent for readability, with the notes often providing a more literal rendering.
– The NET Bible is also available in Chinese.
• Evaluation
– An innovative approach that takes advantage of the power of the internet and employs extensive, scholarly study notes.

• This scale gives an idea of the reading level necessary for different translations.
– NLT – 6.3
– KJV – 12.0
– NASB – 10.0
– TLB – 8.3
– NIV – 7.3

How to Choose a Bible Version